[C320-list] Stalling Engine

[pat reynolds]

chris,  I am having an identical problem with my westerbeke 30 B engine with electric fuel pump.  I have crew who is good with diesels and he has been working on it.  We have got it down to an air leak or faulty fuel pump.  The westerbeke apparently has a secondary permanent circuit breaker and this could also be shutting the engine down.  after awhile it starts again and could run for hours. 

    On Tuesday, July 11, 2017 11:03 AM, Chris Schmidt <dreescds at gmail.com> wrote:
 

 I've read A LOT of posts about stalling engines on here and it's been
really helpful but my problem remains.

Problem: Engine stalls very randomly.  It could happen on our first day,
second day, or this past time, after 4/5 days with some heaving motoring on
a few of those days.  Normally the boat will start again after it stalls
but then stall again within either minutes or seconds.

Filters have been changed multiple times, tank was cleaned in 2013, fuel
lines from tank to filter and filter to engine are new, diesel should be
clean.  When I take everything apart (change filters, take apart the fuel
water separator unit and actually clean any gunk build up out) and bleed
the engine it works again for a while.

Twice in the past few weeks when I went to start the engine, I got nothing
(no noise, no turnover, nothing) even though batteries were fine.  I wait a
little while, mess with a few things, and it starts up right away.  Well,
the last time, it didn't start at all and I got towed over 30 miles back to
my home port.  I arrive and test the engine and it starts right away (after
being connected to shore power for 15 minutes).  So, I'm wondering if there
is an electrical issue that could be impacting this problem or both
problems.

If it's an electrical issue, could that impact the fuel lift pump
intermittently?

I did find a good deal of corrosion on the Battery #1 terminals yesterday
and I cleaned and replaced the parts.

If things brings up any ideas for anyone, please share.  I'm out of ideas
and my wonderful wife is understandably hesitant to get back aboard until
this is solved.  Hence, emergency! :)

Chris
Tangled #226
Rock Hall, MD